Method for treating poxvirus infections

1. A method for inhibiting the replication of a poxvirus by exposing the poxvirus to an extract from a plant material selected from the group consisting of Sarracenia, Nepenthes, Melissa, Lavandula, Glycyrrhiza, Eleutherococcus, Hypericum, Darlingtonia, Heliamphora, Roridula, Drosera, Dionaea, Aldrovanda, Drosophyllum, Triphyophyllum, Catopsis, Brocchinia, Paepalanthus, Utricularia, Genlisea, Pinguicula, Ibicella, Byblis, Philcoxia, Stylidium , and Cephalotus , wherein the plant material comprises leaves and is prepared by steps comprising:

obtaining fresh plant material less than about ten (10) days following harvest of the plant material;

washing and air drying the plant material;

combining the plant material with a liquid comprising at least one of water, ethanol, and glycerol;

allowing the liquid to extract the plant material at a temperature between about room temperature and simmering for about one (1) to about sixty (60) days, or by boiling for less than about one day to form the liquid extract; and

separating the liquid extract from the plant material.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plant material comprises leaves and roots.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the poxvirus is selected from the group consisting of orthopoxvirus, parpoxvirus, avipoxvirus, capripoxvirus, leporipoxvirus, suipoxvirus, molluscipox virus, and yatapox virus.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the poxvirus is a human poxvirus.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the poxvirus is selected from the group consisting of vaccinia virus, monkeypox virus, variola virus, and mollluscum contagiosum virus.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the poxvirus is an animal poxvirus.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step combining the liquid extract with a food-grade or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient to form a therapeutic composition.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the food-grade or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient is a transdermal base carrier or gel.